Naruto: Kakashi, the Ultimate Shinobi

At this moment, in order not to reveal his identity, Kakashi had deliberately removed his Konoha forehead protector, hiding his affiliation. This way, the ambush team wouldn't recognize him immediately.

"Shuili! You damned traitor—you actually dare show your face!"

The moment their eyes met, Ryugasaki's fury ignited like a wildfire. The one who had just spoken—Shuili—wore a mocking grin that only stoked his anger further.

"Oh, Ryugasaki, you're angry? Why so emotional? When I killed your wife and child, they didn't even put up a fight. They practically welcomed me with open arms—pitiful, really. Now they're rotting in the afterlife."

Shuili chuckled darkly, as if recounting a joke only he found funny.

Ryugasaki clenched his fists so tightly, blood seeped from between his fingers. His entire body trembled—not with fear, but with the searing weight of betrayal and grief.

Kakashi's expression sharpened. He didn't need to know every detail to conclude: this man—Shuili—was beyond redemption. In his mind, Kakashi had already passed a silent execution sentence.

"Enough chatter, Shuili. Kill him already. We don't have time for your sick jokes."

The man next to Shuili, Yamakawa, spoke with cold detachment.

"What's the rush, Yamakawa? Ryugasaki's as good as dead. He's a rat caught in a trap. With you and me together, what's there to be afraid of?"

Yamakawa shrugged. "I suppose you're right."

Shuili smirked. "Exactly. Ryugasaki's not making it out of here alive. Might as well give him a farewell speech."

He turned toward Ryugasaki, voice dripping with condescension.

"You really thought hiding in this caravan would save you? That we wouldn't track you down? Don't be naïve."

His laugh echoed across the sand like an insult.

Ryugasaki's jaw clenched. "Shuili! Yamakawa! We grew up together in Jinren Village. We trained, fought, and ate as a team. Why?! Why are you trying to kill me?!"

He roared in disbelief. The betrayal cut deeper than any blade.

The three of them had always shared similar skills and ranks, rising through the ranks of Shinobi together. Their bond had once seemed unbreakable. That illusion shattered a month ago when, without warning, Shuili and Yamakawa ambushed him like madmen.

Ryugasaki barely escaped with his life. When he returned home, he found his family butchered. Even his usually calm temperament had almost been overtaken by blind rage.

But he didn't lose control. Instead of chasing vengeance immediately, he vanished from the village, laying the groundwork for this counterattack.

Meanwhile, Shuili and Yamakawa assumed he was a coward on the run—never realizing they were walking into his trap.

The Chūnin that accompanied them today were their loyal subordinates—or so they believed. What they didn't realize was that among them stood a Chūnin who had once been saved by Ryugasaki in battle, and though their bond had been superficial, gratitude still ran deep.

Ryugasaki had never sought to poach others' followers, but when he asked this Chūnin for help, the man agreed without hesitation. Disgusted by Shuili's cruelty, he chose Ryugasaki over his former superiors.

This small act of loyalty warmed Ryugasaki's heart.

Some people were indeed different—some never knew gratitude, while others lived by it.

Seeing Ryugasaki's confused and betrayed expression, both Shuili and Yamakawa burst into mocking laughter.

"Hahaha, Ryugasaki, you're so laughably naïve. Did you really think we were ever friends? You were nothing but a tool to us."

"Didn't you ever notice," Yamakawa added, "that you always took the lead on dangerous missions?"

Ryugasaki froze. All the past suspicions, the uneven rewards, the strange assignments—they all clicked into place.

He had always been more injured. Always earned less. And the two of them always acted as one, whispering behind his back.

"Why?" he asked bitterly. "Why didn't you just keep pretending? Why not lie a little longer? Maybe… my family would still be alive."

"Why?" Shuili sneered. "Because you got greedy. That ancient ruin—remember? You picked up a stone tablet and refused to share its secrets. That's when we decided you had to die."

Ryugasaki frowned. "That slab was blank. You both saw it."

"We did," Yamakawa said. "But how could something from the ruins be blank? You probably memorized it and wiped it clean. You always were sneaky, Ryugasaki."

"I don't have that kind of skill!" Ryugasaki snapped. "You destroyed my life—my family—because of wild guesses?!"

Shuili's voice turned icy. "Hand it over—the slab, and the jutsu it contained. Maybe we'll let your corpse remain intact. Refuse, and you'll vanish without a trace."

But Ryugasaki only laughed.

"Hahaha… now I understand. I, Ryugasaki of the Mountain, was nothing but a fool. Deceived for years by wolves in human skin. Fine then. Today, either I kill you… or I die trying!"

He raised his kusanagi blade, eyes blazing.

Kakashi dropped beside him and spoke quietly, "Ryugasaki, handle the Chūnin. I'll take the two Jōnin. Join me when you're done."

"Mr. Kakashi… are you sure?" Ryugasaki asked hesitantly. "Those two aren't weak."

He had fought alongside Shuili and Yamakawa for years. Their strength wasn't trivial. But Kakashi's calm demeanor was reassuring.

"I'm sure," Kakashi said. "Focus on your part."

Ryugasaki nodded grimly. If this stranger was willing to trust him, he'd do his part—no matter the cost.

The air grew tense as killing intent flared from both sides.

The desert wind howled—

The battle had begun.